Holiday Apartments and Accommodation in Barcelona

Barcelona has much to offer visitors including spectacular historical sites, world-class beaches and some of the most impressive museums and art galleries in the world. As Spain’s second largest city, Barcelona is an economic, cultural and sporting hub full of life. Tourism is a huge industry in Barcelona and there are many hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation and hostels to suit all needs and requirements. Wimdu offer a wide range of low cost accommodation in Barcelona that can give you a real feeling for life in a bustling Spanish city.
Staying at a Wimdu holiday apartment in Barcelona will give you a unique experience of life in an exciting international city. Not only will you save money but you will experience what it is really like to wake up in your very own Barcelona and have one of the most exciting cities on your doorstep. You will get a taste for local life and find out what really are the best places to visit. Using Wimdu gives you access to a great range of holiday apartments and villas for rent in Barcelona, from studio accommodation in the historic gothic quarter to elegant, airy seafront villas and apartments. What will you will get is not just a place to stay but an insight into the lives of people in Barcelona. When searching for villas or holiday apartments in Barcelona, we are sure our range of accommodation will be able suit all manner of needs.

Fun Facts!

Car owners in Barcelona are considered amongst the worst drivers in the world with accidents occurring every 90 seconds!

Barcelona attracts 1 million visitors a week

There were no beaches in Barcelona until 1992! Industrial coastline was replaced with beaches for the 1992 Olympics

10% of the city is parkland.

UNESCO started World Book Day inspired by a tradition of book giving in Barcelona.

Stunning architecture and a thriving culture

It is hard to know where to begin when talking about what Barcelona has to offer tourists. It is perhaps a good idea to get the Barcelona Card, which entitles you to free admission in over 20 top sites, plenty of discounts and free use of Barcelona’s impressive transport system. Barcelona is home to some spectacular architecture and is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The Barri Gòtic area is where most of the action happens and is the old gothic quarter of Barcelona - much of the city’s impressive buildings were designed by Catalan architects Gaudi and Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Gaudi’s influence is felt throughout the city and his work has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Despite his fame in the present day, Gaudi had his work derided whilst he was alive by people such as George Orwell who described La Sagrada Familia as ‘one of the most hideous buildings in the world’. The Rambla is another place worth investigating and is one of Barcelona’s most popular sights with tourists. Originally a river bed, this 1.3km road is divided into different parts, each with their own style and atmosphere. Some parts feature local Barcelonans selling things such as birds and antiques whilst other parts feature street actors and cafes. There is also a large market at Ramblas de les Flors with over 800 stalls.

Sampling local life

Barcelona has plenty to offer those keen on sampling the local food. There are many great Tapas restaurants in Barcelona and your Wimdu host will probably have his or her own recommendations about where to go. ‘Tapa’ means ‘lid’ and tapas is the plural. The origin of the name is often debated but most people agree the name comes from having a small plate of food resting on your drink to prevent flies from landing in it. Tapas can be anything from olives and small salads to tomato sauces and fish dishes.

Barcelona’s beaches are celebrated for their beauty and cleanliness and are located just 10 minutes from the city center. Many villas and apartments line the seafront – perhaps you’ll find yourself staying on one? There aren’t many huge cities in the world where sun, sea, good food and excellent nightlife come together so perfectly like in Barcelona.

Wimdu’s Top Tips

We know your Wimdu host will be full of ideas and tips on how to spend your stay in Barcelona, but we couldn’t resist offering you some of our own! We particularly like The Labyrinth Park (Parc de Labirint d'Horta) which is Barcelona’s oldest park. It’s easy to get to but far enough out of the tourist areas that it is quiet and peaceful. Take the green line L3 metro line to Mundet and it is 5 minutes from the station. It’s free to enter on Wednesdays and Sundays and costs 2 euros the rest of the week.

For those interested in history, the ruined anti-aircraft battery located on Turo de la Rovira in Guinardo Park is well worth investigating. This site has a slightly eerie feel but nonetheless provides a glimpse into life during the war. There are also amazing 360° views of Barcelona from this point – highly recommended.

The area of the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi called Sarrià is well worth checking out. There are many fantastic restaurants, unusual shops and quaint back streets to get lost in. It has a nice atmosphere and there’s plenty to see. We recommend trying a cake from the many cake shops. Take the FGC from Pl Catalunya or Provenca – it only takes a few minutes to get there.

Getting Around

Barcelona El Prat, the city’s airport, is located just 14km from the city center and there are good links with the rest of Europe. The city is well connected with other Spanish cities such as Madrid by train and bus. French cities such as Marseille and Montpellier are also relatively easy to get to. The stunning Picos de Europe mountain range is within driving distance too. Barcelona’s transport system is efficient and clean. The best way to get around the city is by using the metro system which serves all major tourist attractions. Most people walk everywhere in Barcelona and you will find the streets busy with commuters early in the morning.